After more than four months proving itself as the best team in the America East, top-seeded Stony Brook found out how fragile March makes a mid-major after once again falling painfully short of its first NCAA Tournament appearance, dropping a 61-59 heartbreaker to fourth-seeded Albany last night in the America East semifinals at SEFCU Arena.

Trailing by nine with less than three minutes remaining, the Seawolves tied the game on Dave Coley’s free throws with 14.3 seconds left. But Albany’s Mike Black rushed down the court for the game-winning layup with 2.3 seconds remaining, with Coley’s missed 3-pointer coming after the buzzer sounded and just before the fans rushed court.

With the victory, Albany (23-10) advances to Saturday’s tournament final against second-seeded Vermont, which yesterday was an 85-72 winner over Maryland-Baltimore County in the other semifinal.

“This team is the best I’ve coached in 21 years, unselfish kids, but two points short, tough road game,” said Stony Brook coach Steve Pikiell, whose team had won seven straight games but now awaits an NIT bid. “You’ve got to prove it every night and tonight we didn’t prove it. Someday, when we do get to that NCAA Tournament, people will realize how difficult it is to get there. And we’ll get there.”

Despite winning its third regular-season title in four years, with its best season in Division I, Stony Brook’s one bad day outweighed one amazing season, as it shot 33.3 percent from the field and was outrebounded by an inferior interior.

The Seawolves (24-7) beat Albany twice during the regular season, but were forced to play a road game due to the bizarre America East Tournament format which makes the regular season an even more pointless preamble than in other conferences.

“I think it helped them, but I don’t think it hurt us,” said senior Tommy Brenton, who had six points and 12 rebounds. “It wasn’t pressure. That’s what we’ve done all year is win on the road, but it was a great atmosphere and they definitely fed off the crowd.”

Stony Brook had knocked off Albany in the past three tournaments, and came out swinging with an early 10-3 lead, but the Great Danes quickly fired back and ignited the crowd, reeling off a 20-4 run which led to a 28-22 halftime lead. It was eerily reminiscent of last year’s conference championship game against Vermont, when the Seawolves couldn’t hit from anywhere, scoring four points over a near-12 minute span.

Albany’s timely 3-point shooting, 8 of 18 overall, stretched the lead to 10 with less than six minutes remaining, as Black led the team with 16 points. But Stony Brook sustained hope by willing its way to the foul line, hitting 16 of 20 in the second half.

Coley initiated the attack, scoring 15 points, while freshman Carson Puriefoy’s poise, 16 points and two late 3-pointers, cut the lead to three with one-minute remaining.

Coley’s late free throws seemed to extend the special season, tying the game for the first time in the second half, but four months of magic vanished in the next 12 seconds. Stony Brook may be the best, but last night, Albany was better.

“I’m definitely proud of what we’ve done the entire season,” said Brenton. “One game is not going to hurt us. The season’s not over yet. We’ve still got the NIT and we’re going to try and reach Madison Square Garden.”